WATCH: Art in the Transformed PIT Unveiled
PIT’s new terminal reflects, connects and serves the Pittsburgh region through new works of art from local talent
By Rocco Pacella
Published September 4, 2025
Read Time: 3 mins
The transformed PIT is designed to provide a reflection of the Pittsburgh region’s natural and historic environments, enhancing the airport’s connection with its surroundings.
Taking these elements of reflection and connection within the airport’s design even further is PIT’s Art in the Airport program, which contributes to a more insightful, enriching airport experience by infusing a sense of place—region, community, people, Pittsburgh—into air travel.
The Art in the Airport program is thoughtfully distinct, offering work at 30 locations throughout PIT’s campus, most of which was created by artists from the Pittsburgh region.
“We chose artists who were able to come in from the community from 150 miles around Pittsburgh who have a good regional voice,” said Keny Marshall, PIT’s arts and culture manager.
Artists like Fredy Huamann Mallqui, from Erie, Pa., provide a unique perspective from within the regional community. His hand-carved wood sculptures, entitled “Connections,” will be featured in the new PIT terminal in baggage claim this fall.
“It’s related to my own experience as a migrant from Peru when I came in 2012,” said Mallqui, “and connecting with other people, with other cultures.”
The new terminal airport art program is also part of the wayfinding and user experience. The space selections were very intentional in where art – and the type of art should be located. It is meant to complement passenger traffic flow. Places in the airport where passengers may be stationary (baggage claim, for example) have art displays that provide deeper engagement, such as the “Luggage Thoughts” exhibit by artist John Peña.
The work of local craftspeople has added further depth to the airport’s design alongside the group of predominantly local artists brought in as part of PIT’s transformation. These artisans were engaged to share their perspectives on the Pittsburgh region through their work, adding distinctiveness and authenticity to the transformed PIT experience.
One of those craftspeople is Jason Boone, owner of Urban Tree, a local, full-cycle woodworking shop. Boone and his team reclaim trees from Pittsburgh’s urban forest, shaping them into uniquely beautiful, usable furniture pieces. Those same trees have been transformed into frames for PIT’s new flight information display systems—known in the aviation community as FIDS—that will be placed throughout the airport.
Other artisans include Limelight Tile and Brian Peters Studio, both of which crafted specialized tiling within the new PIT terminal’s restrooms and both of which are located in Pittsburgh. Transit Forge of Cambridge Springs, PA, produced custom wrought-aluminum vases and coat hooks for those same restrooms.
PIT has, by design, utilized local artists and artisans to build “Pittsburgh” into the airport—an airport built for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh and sharing a sense of the Pittsburgh region with all who may visit.
“This airport is Pittsburgh’s airport,” said PIT CEO Christina Cassotis. “When you land here, you’re going to feel like you’re home or you’re going to think, ‘Wow! I didn’t know that about Pittsburgh.’”
In addition to the Calder, other works featured in the transformed PIT include:
Title: “Surrounding Waterways”
Artist: Chris Craychee – Pittsburgh
Location: Departures Level restrooms
Title: “Look Up”
Artist: Ramon Riley – Pittsburgh
Location: Customer Service Building restrooms
Title: “Connections”
Artist: Fredy Huamann Mallqui – Erie, Pa.
Location: Baggage Claim, Arrivals Level
Title: “Cross Currents”
Artist: Adam Kuby – Portland, Oregon
Location: Parking Structure and Roadways
Title: “Forest Floor”
Artist: Clayton Merrell – Pittsburgh
Location: Departures Level
Title: “The Sky Beneath Our Feet”
Artist: Clayton Merrell – Pittsburgh
Location: Connector and Center Core
Title: “Fractal Dance in Transit Gardens”
Artist: Carolina Loyola-Garcia – Pittsburgh
Location: Concourse B restrooms
Title: “Immersion: A Pittsburgh Sound Portrait”
Artist: Narduli Studio – Los Angeles
Location: Terminal Escalators
Title: “Looking Up from Here”
Artist: Njaimeh Njie – Pittsburgh
Location: Arrivals Level restrooms
Title: “Luggage Thoughts”
Artist: John Pena – Pittsburgh
Location: Baggage claim, Arrivals Level
Title: “On a Molecular Level (Halophilic 2-ACAA)”
Artist: Christine Lorenz – Pittsburgh
Location: Concourse D restrooms
Title: “Open Columns”
Artist: Patrick Marold – Denver, Colorado
Location: Green Spaces Outside New Terminal
Title: “Portals”
Artist: Alisha Wormsley – Pittsburgh
Location: International Arrivals Area, Arrivals Level
Title: “Something About Sky”
Artist: Lori Hepner – Pittsburgh
Location: Commercial (Apron) Level restrooms
Title: “The Trees Are a Forest” and “All That Burns Brightly” and “Cosmic Flow”
Artist: Sharmistha Ray – Pittsburgh
Location: Concourse A restrooms
Title: “Touchstones”
Artist: Kim Beck – Pittsburgh
Location: Concourse C restrooms
